Rob Tate

Rob Tate was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He graduated from Yale with a degree in music. While he never pursued music as a career, it plays an important role in his film and editorial work. On ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL [www.sundance.tv] Tate served in three key roles: senior producer, director of photography and lead editor.

As an editor for the last 12 years, Tate has edited multiple feature films and television shows. Tate co-wrote, directed and edited his own independent film, NEPTUNE’S ROCKING HORSE.

Tate is currently a Producer/Shooter/Editor on PBS’s award-winning magazine series, GOURMET’S DIARY OF A FOODIE, which received the “James Beard Award for Best National Television Food Series” for two years in a row, and earned him two Emmy nominations for Producing and Editing, and the New York Festivals International Broadcast TV World Medal for Best Editing in Documentary. He and Selditch have co-directed/produced the soon-to-be-released feature documentary, ELEVEN MINUTES, on fashion designer, Jay McCarroll.

1. What’s your favorite political movie?

Terry Gilliam’s, BRAZIL [www.imdb.com]. It’s about terrorism, and the enemy is us.

2. What role do you feel art plays in politics?

A VITAL role. I’d go so far to say that it is art’s job to be political – to tell us how things are and perhaps imply how things should be…

3. What do you think is the biggest issue for the next generation of Americans?

Bringing back a government that looks out for the people. Reinstating regulation that has the public interest in mind, and not just the bottom line of corporations.

4. Who was the first political candidate you were excited to vote for and why?

Not sure either addresses it that well. But Obama has talked about creating a new economy based on green technology. Kind of a Green New Deal.

9. This is your soapbox – shout it out! What do you need to get off your chest?

I don’t want to believe that so many voters in the USA are so gullible. I try so hard to see things from all sides, but I’m continually amazed that after 8 years, people are still considering seriously putting another Republican (and in Palin – a NEOCONSERVATIVE) in the White House.

10. Do you have any recommended links, books or movies so people can learn more about the issues you care about?

Books: What’s the Matter with Kansas? and The Shock Doctrine.

Movies: Brazil – It is quite shocking how much this film depicts what is currently going on. Nothing works as it was intended. People go about their consumerist daily lives while the world goes to hell in a hand basket. No one is free, and no one is accountable.